Talking book

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides systems and methods of creating talking books that employ photo-electronics for autonomous page recognition. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods for employing one or more light sensing components, such as photoresistors, phototransistors, and photodiodes, on the pages of a book in order to recognize when a page is being read by a user so that an audio segment associated to the page, or pair of pages, that is being read by the user may be played. This invention also relates to employing light sensing components that can recognize and react user interactions with a talking book. Examples of a reaction would be to play a media segment for a particular action or to turn ON a particular LED.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/361,849, filed Mar. 5, 2002, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and methods of recognizing what page abook is opened to (e.g, what page a user is reading from a book). Moreparticularly, this invention relates to recognizing the page of a bookthat a user is reading and subsequently playing an audio segmentassociated to the recognized page.

Talking books have been developed that employ mechanical schemes inorder to recognize the particular page that a user is reading from abook. One example of such a mechanical talking book is present in Haaset al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,514 that is assigned to Eastman Kodak Companyof Rochester, N.Y.

Such mechanical talking books employ thick pages, usually made out ofcardboard, that are placed in a binder. These binder-pages are movedalong binder rings and contain magnets that interact with stationaryHall effect sensors as the pages are turned. After a sensor recognizes apage turning, a prerecorded message is played that is associated to theHall effect sensor for that page. Such prior art mechanical talkingbooks are deficient for many reasons. First, these books require large,thick, and rigid pages which ultimately limit the number of pages thatcan be efficiently realized in the talking book. As the number of pagesincrease in such books so does the complexity of the book's design. Forexample, numerous magnets may be required to be placed in specificlocations on a page so that when a page is turned, a specific magnetpasses over a specific Hall effect sensor. The number of pages,therefore, are limited to the number of Hall effect sensors that can beplaced on the binder.

Furthermore, magnets have to extend from each page, thereby increasingthe book's size. Moreover, these magnets only interact with the Halleffect sensors as the pages are turned. If a user opens such a book to arandom page, by opening one bulk of pages to the left of the book'sspine and one bulk of pages to the right of the book's spine, the bookhas no way to distinguish what page the book is opened to. Suchconventional talking books do not have autonomous page recognitionbecause these books sense when a page is turned to, not when a page isviewable to the user.

Talking books have also been developed that use infrared detectionschemes to recognize when a page is turned. One example of an infraredtalking book can be found in Brefka et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,881 thatis assigned to James T. Shaw of Sagaponack of New York.

Infrared talking books are at a disadvantage because they have to keeptrack of the number of pages that have been turned. As a result, if auser would like to begin reading from page 50 then that user would haveto begin on page 1 and turn each page individually, making sure thateach page was recognized, until page 50 was reached. If the first 50pages were simply turned at the same time in a group, the talking bookwould only recognize a single page as being turned and, as a result, thewrong audio-segment would be played.

Other non-autonomous talking books have also been developed that rely onuser-interactions with the book or desired page to output the desiredaudio segment. One example of such a non-autonomous talking book can beseen in Tabachnik et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,427. Here, varying valuedresistors are located on each page so that when a user touches an audiodevice to a resistor having a particular resistance, an audio segmentassociated to that particular resistance is played.

Non-autonomous talking books are deficient because they require the userto interact with the book, such as turning the book's pages orinteracting with a page's resistive sensor, in order to hear an audiosegment for a particular page or portion of a page.

It is therefore desirable to provide systems and methods for improvedtalking and interactive books. More particularly, is therefore desirableto realize an autonomous talking book that does not require any specificactions by the user (e.g., touching an audio device to the pages orspecifically turning the pages). Such an autonomous talking book wouldbe capable of recognizing which page, or pair of pages, is in an openposition without any special handling of the book.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide systems and methodsfor realizing autonomous page-recognition in books. More particularly,it is an object of the present invention to employ light sensors, suchas photoresistors or photodiodes, in books such that a page isautonomously recognized as being open to when light shines on that page.

In preferred embodiments, the present invention employs light sensors onthe pages of a talking book. Audio segments are associated to everypage, or pair of pages, such that if light shines on a page, an audiosegment associated to that page plays. In this manner, a user can open atalking book of the present invention to any page by using any openingmethod and still have the appropriate audio segment played. Thus,autonomous page recognition is realized. Because light sensors areemployed on or in the pages, a page of the present invention ispreferably thinner than a page of traditional talking books. Inpreferred embodiments, a page is approximately as thick as the employedlight sensing component. Currently, the active area of light sensingcomponents can be fabricated to the thickness of a standard piece ofpaper.

One or more light sensors may be placed on any one page or pair ofpages. A delay may be incorporated into the book's functionality suchthat a sensor, or array of sensors, has to recognize the most light fora period of time (e.g., 1-5 seconds) before an audio segment associatedto that sensor, or array of sensors, is played. Such a delay would allowa user to turn to a particular page without having to listen to theaudio segments associated to the recently turned pages.

The electronics that operate the book are preferably stored in eitherthe book's binding or covers. In doing so, a talking book constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention can have boththe size and the appearance of any non-talking book.

The audio associated to a page can take a variety of forms and,depending on the audio segment's format, can achieve a variety ofdifferent talking books. For example, the talking book can output anaudio version of the text located on a particular page or set of pages.In this manner, the present invention could be utilized to teach youngchildren to read. Such a book could also be utilized, for example, toread to people that have difficulty in seeing the text of a book.Additionally, some books, such as user manuals, usually are read whilethe user is performing some act. For example, a cook book contains pageswith recipes. A reader of a cookbook occasionally attempts to do twothings at once, read the book and carry out the recipe. A talking bookof the present invention that employs text-associated audio segments canrelieve one of the burdens that a cookbook user has; the necessity tophysically read and re-read the instructions. Thus, an audio segment maybe repeated if the playing of the audio segment completes and the useris still recognized as reading the same page.

Furthermore, if the audio segments are associated to the text of abook's pages then the text of the pages may be removed altogether. Thus,a book's whimsical and festive nature could be noticeably increased as aresult of this alteration. For example, people buy traditional art booksin a museum so that they can see the paintings in the museum at anytime. However, such traditional art books usually have only smallrepresentations of the paintings because descriptive text is requiredfor each painting. Yet, an art talking book of the present invention mayeliminate text entirely. Thus, a talking book of the present inventionmay contain page-size representations of the paintings. If the amount ofmemory in which the media segments (e.g., a segmented audio version ofthe tour of the museum's collection contained in the book) associated toeach page is large enough, the amount of description that can be storedin audio can easily surpass the amount of description that can beprovided as text in a traditional art book.

Additional photo-electronic components may be employed in a talking bookof the present invention to create an interactive talking book. Forexample, interactive light sensors may be placed on a page so that if auser “presses” a light sensor (e.g., covers the light sensor so that itdoes not recognize any light) an audio-segment associated with thisaction may be played. Additionally, the duration of how long a sensor iscovered may be utilized to control what audio segment is played. Theprinciples of the present invention can be migrated to other mediumssuch as, for example, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, puzzles, maps,and binders.

As in another embodiment, the electronics of a talking book of thepresent invention may be removable from and insertable into othertalking books. In such embodiments, a user would only need a singleelectronic binding that is compatible with a variety of light sensingbooks and associated memory components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above-mentioned objects and features of the present invention can bemore clearly understood from the following detailed descriptionconsidered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the samereference numerals denote the same structural elements throughout, andin which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a talking book employing photo sensorsconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a book binding for a talking bookconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an electronic architecture for a talking book utilizing photosensor readings as controller inputs constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an electronic architecture for a talking book utilizing photosensor readings as memory enabling signals constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a talking book depicting illustrating various photo sensorlocations and increased page image size constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a talking book employing light sensing buttons constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an autonomous page recognition processconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an autonomous page recognition processconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a light sensor button recognition processconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;and

FIG. 10 is an illustration of one embodiment of how a light sensor maybe affixed to a page constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts talking book 100 that employs any number of light sensors161 and 162 on any number of pages (e.g., pages 110 and 120) todetermine which page, or pair of pages, is being read by a user. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that any type of light sensing orlight sensitive component or material may be used to sense the amount oflight that is exposed to the pages of talking book 100. Light sensors161 and 162 may be, for example, photodiodes, photoresistors,phototransistors, solar cells, photomultiplier tubes, or any other typeof light sensor.

In preferred embodiments, talking book 100 recognizes what page isopened to (e.g, what page is being read by a user) by sensing what pageis exposed to the most amount of light. Talking book 100 may also beconfigured to recognize an OPEN page by determining which page or pagesare receiving any light past a particular threshold. After theparticular page, or pair of pages, is recognized as being OPEN, talkingbook 100 may perform an action associated to that page. For example,talking book 100 may play an audio or media clip associated to thatpage. Electronics and other components needed for the operation oftalking book 100 may be stored in either book binding 150, front cover140, back cover 130, or any other area of talking book 100.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that when book 100 is opened,two pages may be exposed to light. For example, if page 120 is beingread by a user, the reverse side of page 110 (not shown) may also beexposed. Yet, one page may be exposed if talking book 100 is folded soonly page 120 faces the user and thus, preferably, receives the mostlight. As per another example, front cover 140 may not contain lightsensors or text. Thus, only one page, the front of page 110 would bevisible to a user when front cover 140 is first opened. Light sensors161 and 162 may, therefore, be located on multiple pages, multiple sidesof pages, between pages on binding 150, front cover 140, back cover 130,or any other area of talking book 150 in order to better recognize whatpages of book 100 are being read by a user.

Light sensors 161 and 162 may also be employed in multipleconfigurations on a page of book 100 in order to take a more accuratereading of light falling onto the page, capturing the way a user isholding and operating the book, and recognizing what page talking book100 is opened to. In this manner, if multiple light sensors are presenton a page, the average light from this array may be used to determine ifthe page, or pair of pages, is being read by a user.

As previously mentioned, audio clips may be associated to light sensors161 and 162. For example, audio corresponding to page 110 may beassociated to light sensor 161. Audio corresponding to page 120 may beassociated to light sensor 162. Thus, when page 110 is opened to,talking book 100 will preferably play the audio segment associated tolight sensor 161. When page 120 is opened to, talking book 100 willpreferably play the audio segment associated to light sensor 162.

Audio may correspond to multiple pages through a single light sensor.For example, an audio clip that contains a vocal representation of thetext located on the reverse side of page 110 and front of page 120 maybe associated to light sensor 162. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that any number of pages may be included in talking book 100.Audio clips may be associated to, for example, text, images, pictures orother indicia located on the pages of talking book 100. Audio clips maybe in the form of, for example, songs, readings of the text,descriptions of images, soundtracks, or oral instructions.

Multiple light sensing procedures may be utilized in talking book 100.One light sensing procedure recognizes if light sensor 161 or 162 is ON(e.g., light is hitting the sensor) and, if a light sensor is ON, playsthe audio clip associated to the ON light sensor. Light sensors 161 and162 may have tolerances or thresholds, so that at least a specificamount of light needs to be sensed in order for light sensors 161 and162 to, for example, turn ON, conduct an appropriate amount of currentto be determined as being ON, or provide a an appropriate amount ofpotential to be determined as being ON.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple types of lightrecognizing techniques may, be utilized in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. For example, light readings may betaken from all light sensors 161 and 162 that are ON or just all lightsensors 161 and 162 regardless of their state. The intensity ormagnitude of light from these readings may then be compared and an audiosegment corresponding to the light sensor or array of sensors that hassensed the brightest light may be played. As per another technique, theamount of light that is read by a light sensor or array of sensors maybe averaged over a period of time (e.g., 1-5 seconds). After thesampling period ends, the averages of all sensors, or array of sensors,may be compared.

A user may sometimes turn the pages of a book in order to find aparticular page. Therefore, a delay also may be integrated into talkingbook 100 such that undesired audio segments are not played to a userwhile that user turns the pages of talking book lob. This delay may takemany forms. In one embodiment, the delay may be configured so that alight sensor, or an array of light sensors, has to read the most lightfor a given period of time (e.g., 1-5 seconds).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that control, audio playingdevices, and memory are also preferably included in talking book 100(e.g., in binding 150). Generally, the audio segments will be stored inmemory and played through an audio playing device when the controlcircuitry chooses, by comparing the measurements from the light sensors,what page or pair of pages is OPEN to a user. A button may also beincluded on talking book 100 (shown in FIG. 2) to toggle between pageswhen a pair of pages is being recognized as being OPEN. This togglebutton would toggle the audio being played to a user between the audiosegments associated to the two OPEN pages. The operation of the controlcircuitry, memory, and audio playing devices (e.g., speakers) will bediscussed further below in more detail.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that one light sensormay be used for a pair of pages. Additionally, multiple light sensorsmay be incorporated on each page where some of these light sensors faceone side of the page (e.g., measures light from the front of the page)while the rest of the light sensors face the reverse side of the page(e.g., measures light from the back of the page).

FIG. 2 depicts book binding 200 that may be employed in a talking bookconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.Binding 200 may be utilized to house, for example, the controlcircuitry, memory, audio circuitry, and speakers of a talking book.

ON/OFF switch 270 may be included on book binding 200 in order to turn atalking book ON or OFF. For example, ON/OFF switch 270 may be used todetermine if power is being supplied to the talking book. ON/OFF switch270 may slide between two positions (e.g., positions 272 and 273) ontrack 271. Each one of positions 272 or 272 may correspond to either anON or OFF functionality. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thattalking book 200 does not need ON/OFF switch 270 to turn ON and OFF.Instead, talking book 200 may be configured to automatically turn onwhen an interior light sensor (e.g. a light sensor on a page) measures ameaningful amount of light. Similarly, talking book 200 may beautomatically be turned OFF if none of the interior light sensorsmeasure any meaningful amount of light for a period of time.

Volume control 221 may be included on book binding 200 and may be usedby a user to control the volume of the audio played. Similarly, speedcontrol 222 may be included on binding 200 and may be used by a user tocontrol the speed of the audio being played. Other buttons also may beincluded to manipulate the presentation of audio of a talking book. Forexample, one child user may appreciate the audio book to be in afatherly voice while another may appreciate a motherly voice. In thisexample, binding 200 would allow a user to change the voice to that of amother, father, baby, teen, male, female. Additionally, dials may beincluded to allow a user to change the pitch and tone of a voicemanually.

If binding 200 holds circuitry or electrical components, binding 200 mayinclude any number of wires or communication lines such as input lines261-264. Input lines 261-264 are preferably coupled to the light sensorsof the present invention and communicate the state of, or electricalreadings from, the light sensors to the control circuitry contained inbinding 200. The control circuitry may then determine which audiosegment associated to a light sensor, array of light sensors, page, orpair of pages should, if any, be played to the user through speakers 251and 252.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that additional communicationlines or wires may extend from binding 200 and that multiple wires maybe needed to operate, or read, a single light sensor. For example, ifthe light sensor was a photodiode, one embodiment may require that aterminal of the photodiode be suppled a voltage or grounded while adifferent terminal to be sensed for current. As per another example,light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be incorporated on a page and powercontrol lines may be extended from book binding 200 to these LEDs. Inthis manner, inputs 261-264 may also take the form of output lines.

Toggle button 223 may also be included on binder 200. Toggle button 223may be utilized to control which audio segment to play if a page, orplurality of pages, is associated to multiple audio segments. Forexample, a pair of pages may have two audio segments associated to thepair. Each audio segment, however, may only correspond to a single page.Thus, a user may utilize toggle button 223 to toggle between these twoaudio segments. If toggle button 223 is not utilized by a user, binding200 would preferably play the audio segment associated to the earlierpage in the book and then automatically play the audio segmentassociated to the later page in the book.

Speakers 251 and 252 may be included on binding 200. Speakers may beincluded anywhere on binding 200 and in some embodiments may beextendable from binding 200 through extendable speaker segment 210.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of speakersmay be employed in a talking book of the present invention. Furthermore,the functionality of binding 200 may be included into other areas of atalking book, such as the book covers of a talking book constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a majority of theelectronics of talking book 200 may be stored outside of the talkingbook. For example, the memory, control, and speaker circuitry may bestored in an external housing (e.g., a teddy bear). In this example,some control circuitry may still be included in the talking book todistinguish what page that a book is turned to. The book may include atransmission circuit that can send information about which page is OPENto the external circuitry housing (which would have a receiver circuitto receive the information). The circuitry in the external housing wouldthen be able to determine which media segment to play in memory and playthat media segment (e.g., an audio segment) to the user.

FIG. 3 depicts electronic architecture 300 that may be utilized toconstruct a talking book in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention. Architecture 300 may include two separate segments,circuitry housing 301 and any number of pages 350. Page 350 may containany number of light sensors or output devices while circuitry housing301 contains the circuitry necessary to control and utilize the deviceson page 350. Communication lines 340 are included to electrically couplethese two segments together. Generally, communication lines 340 may beinput wires that accept light readings from the light sensors (e.g.photodiode 360, phototransistor 370, and photoresistor 380) on page 350or communication lines 340 may be output wires that provide controlsignals to electrical components (e.g., LED 390) on page 350. As aresult of communication lines 340, control circuitry 310 may know, forexample, what light sensors are exposed to light and how much light eachsensor is exposed to.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that light sensors may alsobe included on a binding of a talking book. Such light sensors maypreferably be placed between the pages of the talking book and facingthe direction from which a user would read the talking book. When alight sensor senses the most amount of light in this embodiment then thepages that this light sensor lies between are OPEN.

Control circuitry 310 may perform any function that is necessary for atalking book constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention to operate. For example, control circuitry 310 maydetermine what page, or pair of pages, that light is being exposed to bycomparing the readings from any number of light sensors and, as aresult, determine what page, or pair of pages, is OPEN. Controlcircuitry 310 may then, for example, choose an audio clip from memory330, by enabling a block of memory 330 that is associated to the OPENpage, or pair of pages, and enabling audio circuitry 320 to play theclip.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that timing functions can beperformed by control circuitry 310. For example, light sensors may onlybe utilized by control circuitry 310 at a specific time interval inorder to sense if a page has been turned, the talking book has beenclosed, or to continue playing or to repeat the audio segment beingplayed if the same page is still being read by the user.

Audio circuitry 320 may be included in housing 301. In one embodiments,audio circuitry 320 may only be a circuitry. In more complicatedembodiments, audio circuitry 320 may also include an amplifier or othersound manipulation devices. User controls that a user can utilize tomanipulate sound (e.g., change the pitch, tone, or volume) of an audiosegment may be included in audio circuitry 320.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that audio circuitry 320 isnot limited to just presenting audio to a user. Moreover, audiocircuitry 320 may not present audio to the user at all. Audio circuitry320 may, instead, provide any type of media. For example, instead ofspeakers, audio circuitry 320 may include a display console. In thismanner, additional text, video, or pictures may be displayed to a user.Such media would preferably be associated to a page, or light sensor, inthe same was a an audio segment has been herein described.

Memory 330 may be included in housing 340 to store any number of mediasegments (e.g., audio segments or movie segments). Memory 330 may beaccessed using any known technique. Memory 330 may be partitioned inblocks such that each block is associated to a light sensor, array oflight sensor, page, or pair of pages. Variably, control circuitry 310may contain references to where a media segment for a particular page islocated on memory 330. Memory 330 may be played by control circuitry310, for example, by simply enabling the desired portion of memory to beread, converted into an appropriate signals, and streamed into audiocircuitry 320 at an appropriate rate.

As mentioned above, page 360 may contain any number of light sensors orother electrical components. For example, page 360 may contain anynumber of photodiodes 360, phototransistor 370, photoresistor 380, orLED 390. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that photodiode 360may also be a solar cell, or photocell, and photodiode 360 may beconfigured in either a photovoltaic or photoconductive configuration.

Photodiode 360 may be included on page 360 to determine the amount oflight on page 350 or a portion of page 350. In one embodiment,photodiode 360 may be given a power voltage at terminal 362 by controlcircuitry 310. Control circuitry 310 may then read the amount of currentfrom terminal 361. The amount of current from terminal 361 is dependentupon the amount of light impinging the active region of photodiode 360.In this manner, control circuitry 310 can determine which photodiode, orgroups of photodiodes, are being inflicted with the most light.

Phototransistor 370 may be included on page 350 to determine the amountof light on page 350 or a portion of page 350. In one embodimentphototransistor 370 may be supplied a power voltage to terminal 372 bycontrol circuitry 310. The amount of current provided to controlcircuitry 310 by terminal 373 would then be dependent on the intensityof light 371.

Photoresistor 380 may be included on page 350 to determine the amount oflight on page 350 or a portion of page 350. Terminal 382 ofphotoresistor 380 may be supplied, for example, by a voltage signal fromcontrol circuitry 310. The resistance of photoresistor 380 is dependentupon the amount of light that photoresistor 380 is exposed to. In thismanner, the amount of current supplied to control circuitry 310 byterminal 381 will be dependent upon the amount of light thatphotoresistor 380 is exposed to.

LED 390 may also be powered by control circuitry 310 at terminals 391and 392 such output devices could enhance the whimsical and festivenature of a talking book. For example, if light buttons (as discussed inbook 600 of FIG. 6) were incorporated into page 350 then an LED couldlight up depending on which light button was pressed (e.g., covered up).For example, suppose that page 350 contained a question with fouranswers and that each answer had a corresponding light button. Now, twoLEDs 390 may be incorporated onto page 350 where one was green and onewas read. If the user presses the right light button (i.e., answers thequestion correctly) then an appropriate LED may light up on page 350(e.g., the green LED).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the light sensors andelectrical components that may be placed on page 350 may be electricallycoupled, and utilized by control circuitry 310, in many differentconfigurations and may employ a variety of other sensing techniques. Asper one example, a resistor may electrically coupled to terminal 361 ofphotodiode 360. Terminal 361 may be coupled to control circuitry 310.The opposite terminal of this resistor may then be coupled to ground.Thus, control circuitry 310 is provided a voltage signal from page 350instead of a current signal.

Turning now to FIG. 4, electronic architecture 400 is depicted thatutilizes light sensor readings as direct memory enabling signals. Lightreadings from the light sensors of the talking book may be directly usedto enable specific memory blocks so that media may be played from audiocircuitry 420 through, if necessary, controlling circuitry 410. Oneadvantage of electronic architecture 400 is that control circuitry 410may not be needed, thus decreasing the cost of manufacturing a talkingbook.

More particularly, memory 430 may be configured such that when a blockof memory receives an appropriate signal (e.g., a light reading of adesired intensity) from a light sensor, that block of memory 430 isstreamed, at an appropriate rate, to media circuitry 420. In thisembodiment, light sensors may be coupled to memory 430 instead ofcontrol circuitry 410.

FIG. 5 depicts talking book 500 that includes various light sensorlocations and increased page image size. Talking book 500 depicts a fewof the locations that light sensors may be placed. More particularly, Anarray of light sensors 522-525 may, for example, be included on eachpage or set of pages in order to obtain a better reading of the lightfalling on a particular page of a talking book. More particularly, lightreadings from all of the light sensors included in an array may beaveraged together (e.g. by control circuitry 310 of FIG. 3) to obtain amore accurate reading of the amount of light falling on that page.

Variably, as described above, a single light sensor 521 may be locatedon a page. As depicted as light sensor 521, a single light sensor ispreferably close to the spine and in the middle of the page. Thislocation is a preferred location because the page that light sensor 521is located on would have to be substantially open in order for lightsensor 521 to read any significant amount of light. Additionally, if thecontrol circuitry is located in the spine of book 500, cover 501, orcover 502, a minimum amount of wiring would be needed to interconnectlight sensor 521 to the control circuitry.

Talking book 500 may have increased functionality if talking book 500 isproperly configured to take advantage of the light sensing attributesdescribed above. For example, no text is needed in talking book 500 aslong as the information contained in the text is also contained in anassociated audio segment. Furthering this example, if the text isremoved from the page, the pages may take on additional functionality byincorporating additional information. As shown in talking book 500, textis removed from page 503 to be replaced by picture 510 thatsubstantially fills page 503.

The above technique may be especially advantageous in art books whereconventional art books have small images due to large descriptions. As aresult, one embodiment of the present invention could be an art bookwith full-page illustrations. Information about such illustrations wouldpreferably be communicated through the audio automatically played when auser is reading a page (e.g., a page is OPEN). In doing so, a largeramount information than could be placed on page 503 as text may beincluded in this audio segment.

Furthering the above example, the book could be an art book for aspecific museum painting collection where each page has a singlepainting on it. The audio could be associated to the museum's tour ofthat collection. Therefore, if a user turns to the last page of the bookand that page depicts the last picture of the collection, the last pagewill autonomous be recognized as being open and the tour audio segmentassociated to that painting may be played to the user. This would bebeneficial over art collection tour videos in which you can't controlthe duration, magnification, or angle that you view a painting.

Talking book 500 also includes speakers 550 and 560. Speakers 550 and560 may be extendable from book covers 501 and 502, respectively. Ifmore than one speaker is utilized on a talking book, the speaker may beassociated to different audio segments or present audio segmentsdifferently. For example, if the talking book is a play and the text isthat of a two person conversation each speaker may be designated to playthe speech from one of these persons. As per another example, leftspeaker 550 may output the left channel of an segment file while rightspeaker 560 may output the right channel of the same audio file. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that other speaker configurations maybe employed in talking book 500.

Looking now at FIG. 6, interactive talking book 600 is depicted thatemploys light sensing buttons which allow a user to interact with a pageof book 600. Particularly, light sensors may be utilized for otherfunctions in addition to autonomous page sensing. In some embodiments,light buttons may be incorporated onto a page such that an audio clip,or other type of media, is triggered when no light is sensed in thoseinstances when light is supposed to be sensed.

More particularly, light buttons 621-624 may be utilized to sense lightafter light sensor 610 has determine that page 604 is OPEN. Lightbuttons 621-624 may then act provide the same functionality asmechanical buttons such that if a child covers a light button, anassociated action may occur. For example, suppose that a cow isassociated to light button 622. In this example, if a child covers lightbutton 622 and light button 622 is not exposed to light, then anassociated action may occur. As associated action may be that the soundof a cow is played through speakers 650 and 660 or text 631 appears ondisplay 630. In this manner, interactive talking book 600 may beutilized as an educational and learning toy. Light buttons 621-624 maybe electrically coupled to control circuitry in the same manner as alight sensor is coupled to the control circuitry. For example, a lightbutton may be similar to photodiode 360, phototransistor 370, orphotoresistor 380 of FIG. 3 and coupled to control circuitry 310 of FIG.3. Control circuitry 310 may be configured to distinguish which lightsensors are being utilized as light buttons and which light sensors arebeing utilized to determine which page, or pair of pages, is OPEN.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that additional componentsmay be included on page 604. For example, temperature sensor may beplaced on page 604 instead of light buttons 621-624.

As mentioned, display screen 630 may be included on talking book 600 andmay be utilized to display video signals in addition to or instead ofaudio signals for each page. Display screen 630 may include speakers andcontrol buttons to manipulate the display of the media played (e.g.,contrast, brightness, speed).

As per one example, suppose that talking book 600 pertains to the best100 films of all time where each opened page or pages is associated toone of these 100 best films. If the movie “Treasure Hunters” is turnedto, a trailer, or video segment, from “Treasure Hunters” may bedisplayed on display screen 630. Preferably display screen 630 isextendable from either book cover 601 or 602 or the binding of talkingbook 100.

As yet another example, suppose a talking book pertains to the best 100video games of all time where each opened page or pages is associated toone of these 100 best video games. Controls may be included on or extendfrom talking book 600 so that a level or segment of each video game maybe played when the page associated to that game is turned to.

FIG. 7 depicts process 700 utilized in an autonomous page recognitionsystem constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. Process 700 may initiate with step 710 when a talking book isturned ON. Step 220 then compares the light on the light sensors locatedthroughout the talking book. Step 730 determines what light sensor isreading the most light and determines if this signal has beenapproximately consistent (e.g., reading the most light) for a particularamount of time (e.g., approximately 3 seconds). If the light sensor, orthe average light reading from an array of light sensors, reading themost light is not consistent for the particular amount of time then step720 is repeated.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that for a signal to beconsistent it may only need to be reading light while the other lightsensing signals are not reading light. If the signal remains constantthen step 740 occurs and the audio, or media, associated with the lightsensor sensing the most light is played. Step 750 checks to see if theaudio is complete and, if so, returns to step 720 to check for a newpage, else step 730 (or 750) may be repeated so that the audio maycontinue playing.

Additionally, a step may be included to delay utilizing the amount oflight sensed by light sensors after audio play has been determined ascompleted by step 750 in order to give the user time to turn the page.Such a step would be especially useful in a talking book that can beread, or requires the book to be read, by reading the pagesnon-consecutively.

FIG. 8 depicts process 800 that may be utilized in an autonomous pagerecognition system constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention. Process 800 is initiated by step 81 that senses tosee if a page is opened (e.g., a page is exposed to light). If so, step820 commences and plays media associated to the page, or pair of pages,sensed in step 810.

FIG. 9 depicts process 900 that may be employed in a system with lightsensing buttons. Process 900 is initiated by step 910 that senses to seeif a page is opened (e.g., a page is exposed to light). If so, step 920commences to see if a light button is pressed. If so, step 920 occursand media associated to that light button is presented to the user.Otherwise, step 920 is repeated.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that additional steps may beincluded in processes 700, 800, and 900 of FIGS. 700, 800, and 900,respectively. For example in process 900 of FIG. 9, media may, inaddition to being associated with a light button, be associated to apage. Therefore, media associate with the page sensing the most lightmay be played in step 910, during or after which media may be playedassociated to the activation of a light button.

Turning now to FIG. 10, page layout 1000 is shown. Page layout 1000includes one embodiment of how light sensor 1040 may be attached to page1020. In the illustrated embodiment, hole 1025 is cut in page 1020 thatis the same size as active region 1042 of light sensor 1040. Lightsensor 1040 has, in the depicted embodiment, a physical housing 1041from which active region 1042 extends from. Light sensor 1040 may beattached to page 1020 by placing active region 1042 through hole 1025and using an adhesive (e.g., a glue) on the side of physical housing1041 facing page 1025.

Page 1030 may be used to better secure light sensor 1040 to page 1025.An adhesive may be used to affix page 1030 to page 1025. Page 1030 mayalso provides insulation for wires 1043 and 1044.

Page 1010 may also be affixed to the top of page 1020 to support theweight of light sensor 1040 on page 1020. In such an embodiment, lightsensor 1040 would preferably be able to sense light through page 1010and any adhesive used that may be placed between active region 1042 andpage 1010. Additionally, a hole, similar to hole 1025, may be includedon page 1010. Such an embodiment would be advantageous if active region1042 extends beyond physical housing 1041 by a thickness greater thanpage 1020. In this manner, page 1030 may include a hole that isapproximately the size of physical housing 1041 such that a bookcontaining page 1020 may be fully closed.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that light sensor 1040 may beattached to page 1020 in many ways. For example, light sensor 1040 maybe constructed without physical housing 1041 and wires 1043 and 1044.Active region 1042 may then be embedded into page 1020 and metallic inkmay be printed on page 1020 and appropriately connected to active region1042 so that active region 1042 may be utilized.

Components of one of the talking book of the present invention may beremovable and insertable into other talking books constructed with theprinciples of the present invention. For example, the memory of thetalking book may be removable and insertable into other talking books.The information, media, or audio associated to the pages of a talkingbook may be stored in such a memory device. Removable memory may be usedto decrease the price of multiple talking books since only one memoryunit needs to be purchased. In this manner, a user could connect to theinternet and download the appropriate media for a particular talkingbook.

Similarly, most of the electronic components of a talking bookconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present inventionmay be removable. If all the electronics, other than page light sensing,are located in the binding of the talking book then a portion of thebinding may be removable. Such a binding portion could be compatiblewith a variety of similar talking books such that the talking bookelectronics (e.g., control and audio circuitry) are reused. Extendingupon this feature of the present invention, a separate removable memorydevice may included with each talking book of the present invention andinsertable into the removable electronic binding. Examples of memorythat may be employed in the talking book of the present inventioninclude, for example, flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM, PROM EPROM, andEEPROM memory devices or other suitable volatile or non-volatilememories. Smart cards may also be utilized as memory devices by thepresent invention.

The interior of each cover may also include pressure pads. Once a pageis determined to be OPEN the pressure pads could be configured to sensewhen a person presses down on a particular section of a page. As aresult an interactive talking book could be realized, employingfunctions similar to that of talking book 500 of FIG. 5.

For talking books that take the form of novels, audio other than audiodirectly representative of the text of the book may be utilized. Forexample, in a novel of “Treasure Hunters”, the soundtrack of “TreasureHunters” may be selectively played according to the theme of the textcontained on the pages (or chapters) that are currently being read by auser. Thus, when a fast-chase sequence is being read by a user, anassociated fast paced audio segment will be played to the user. Thus,persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the benefit provided toa user of a talking book of the present invention may be differentdepending on the type of audio or media segment provided to that user.

Methods may be employed to decrease the memory needed for audio or mediasegments to be stored. For example, music compression may be utilized.As per another example, text may be stored in the memory of a talkingbook that is directly associated to the text of a page or a portion of apage. A voice synthesizer may then be included in the talking book thatcan translate digital text into speech. In doing so, the amount ofmemory needed to store speech will be decreased.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus ofthe present invention may be implemented using other control methods,comparison techniques, sensing components (e.g., touch buttons andthermal buttons), and configurations. All such modifications are withinthe scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claimsthat follow.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A system comprising: a first and second bookcovers; a plurality of pages bound to said first and second book covers;memory storing a plurality of segments representative of text; circuitryfor converting at least one of said segments representative of text intoan audio segment; and a speaker for playing said audio segment.
 22. Thesystem of claim 21 wherein at least one of said plurality of pages isdetermined as being open by a control circuit and any one or ones ofsaid plurality of segments associated to said at least one opened pageis converted into audio and played through said speaker.
 23. A systemcomprising: a plurality of pages bound together to form a book;circuitry for determining which one, or ones, of said plurality of pagesis being read; and memory for storing a plurality of text segments; avoice synthesizer for converting into speech at least one of saidplurality of text segments based on said determination of which one, orones, of said plurality of pages is being read; and a speaker forplaying said speech.